Research

The 2018 ParticipACTION Report Card

Physical Activity for Children and Youth links brain health with regular physical activity

ParticipACTION released today its 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, which gave Canadian kids a score of D+ for Overall Physical Activity. This grade is particularly alarming considering that this year’s Report Card also highlights important connections between physical activity and kids’ brain health.

Only 35 per cent of 5- to 17-year-olds and 62 per cent of 3- to 4-year-olds are getting the recommended physical activity levels for their age group, the report card found, and may be having an impact on the health of their brains – kids may be less attentive, moody and not meeting their full potential both in and out of the classroom.

“For decades we’ve talked about how physical activity improves heart health, helps maintain healthy body weights, and builds strong bones and muscles in kids,” said Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, ParticipACTION Report Card and Director of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute’s Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (CHEO-HALO). “This year we wanted to dig deeper into what it does for their most complex organ – their brain. From increased cognitive skills to improved mental health, physical activity has profound impacts on kids’ brain health. Yet, we now know that many Canadian children and youth are missing out on these benefits because of a lack of physical activity. So, for their brains’ sake, it’s time to get kids sitting less and moving more.”

The 2018 ParticipACTION Report Card was released in concert for the first time with an evidence-informed Expert Statement on Physical Activity and Brain Health in Children and Youth. The Expert Statement was developed by a team of pediatric neuroscientists, exercise scientists, clinicians and practitioners. It finds that for better brain health – including cognition, brain function and mental health – all children and youth should be physically active on a regular basis.

“Regular physical activity, even in short bursts, can help kids’ brains on many levels,” said Dr. Tremblay. “Kids who are more active have increased self-esteem and are generally more focused and less stressed compared to their less active peers. For example, students who exercise before a test show stronger brain function than those who don’t. Furthermore, kids with brain-based disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder or ADHD, may experience even greater improvements in learning and thinking as a result of regular physical activity.”

The lowest grades in this year’s Report Card are a D+ for Overall Physical Activity, D for Sedentary Behaviours and F for the 24-Hour Movement Behaviours. Despite common knowledge of the health benefits of kids moving more, turning away from screens, getting off the couch and breaking a sweat, most of them aren’t, but now they have another pressing reason to do so – for their brain health.

“In order to help support the development of strong, healthy brains we need to encourage kids to get enough daily heart-pumping physical activity,” said Elio Antunes, President and CEO, ParticipACTION. “Research shows that active kids perform better in school and are generally happier. We need to be active role models and set kids up to succeed. I understand that modern life can get in the way of making the time to get active, but I encourage all families to try. And, get outdoors more because it is a powerful antidote for kids facing stress.”

Other grades assigned in the Report Card include:

  • “D” for Active Play & Leisure Activities
  • “D-” for Active Transportation
  • “B” for Organized Sport Participation
  • “C-” for Physical Education
  • “B+” for Sleep
  • “D+” for Physical Literacy
  • “D” for Physical Fitness
  • “C+” for Family & Peers
  • “B-” for School
  • “B+” for Community & Environment
  • “C+” for Government

Recommendations on how to increase opportunities for physical activity and improve kids’ brain health, including those with brain-based disabilities, can be found within the Expert Statement.

To download the 2018 ParticipACTION Report Card Highlight Report, including the Expert Statement, or Full Report, please visit ParticipACTION.

GET-FACTS researchers identify new genes linked to food allergy

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By Emily Shantz & Susan J. Elliott, on behalf of the GET-FACTS Steering Committee

GET-FACTS scientists Yuka Asai, Ann Clarke, Denise Daley and their team have published a study in The Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology that provides new information on how our genes may be involved in the development of peanut and other food allergies. In their study, which was funded by the Allergy, Genes and Environment (AllerGen) Network and CIHR, researchers identified several new genes linked with peanut allergy. One gene in particular, called c11orf30/EMSY, may be be especially important, as it appears to be involved in the development of not only peanut allergy, but other food allergies as well. This is the first study to identify EMSY as a potential genetic cause of food allergy.

How was this study done?

For the first part of the study, scientists analyzed DNA from 850 people with peanut allergy (from the Canadian Peanut Allergy Registry) and 926 people without. The researchers did a type of analysis known as a genome-wide association study (GWAS).  Through this type of analysis, researchers scanned each genome, or set of DNA, to try to identify genes common among people with peanut allergy, but not common among people without. Because they are found more often in allergic people, it is likely that these genes play an important role in the development of peanut allergies. Several new genes associated with peanut allergy were uncovered, including EMSY.

For the second part of the study, scientists looked at all food allergies, not just peanut. They did what’s called a ‘meta-analysis’ meaning they combined data from the Canadian population (used above) with data from six other genetic studies done in the U.S., Australia, Germany, and Holland. When the data from these studies were pooled together, it was found that the same gene - EMSY -  was also linked to other types of food allergy, besides peanut.

What does this mean? Well, essentially, it means that this gene - EMSY - is involved in peanut allergy, and this extends to food allergies in general.

Where do we go from here?

Identifying genes that are associated with food allergy is a fundamental step in understanding how food allergies develop. Once we determine how these genes work differently in food allergic patients, treatments could be developed that essentially re-direct them to act normally – thereby reversing or reducing the severity of the food allergy. The results from this study could also lead to genetic tests for food allergy. If we scan a person’s DNA and find food allergy-related genes, this could indicate that the individual is at risk for developing a food allergy. Those at risk would benefit from early intervention and better preparedness to deal with allergic reactions. Overall, this study provides an important foundation for future food allergy studies to build upon.


References

Asai, Y., Eslami, A., Dorien van Ginkel, C., Akhabir, L., Wan, M., Ellis, G., Ben-Shoshan, M., Martino, D., Ferreira, M. A., Allen, K., Mazer, B., de Groot, H., de Jong, N. W., Gerth van Wijk, R. N., Dubois, A. E. J., Chin, R., Cheuk, S., Hoffman, J. and Daley, D., 2017. Genome-wide association study and meta-analysis in multiple populations identifies new loci for peanut allergy and establishes c11orf30/EMSY as a genetic risk factor for food allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In press, accepted manuscript. Published online October 10, 2017: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674917315749

AllerGen NCE, 2017. New genetic clue to peanut allergy. Published online October 10, 2017: http://allergen-nce.ca/wp-content/uploads/Daley-new-genetic-clue-peanut-allergy.pdf